NORTH FORK – The Sierra National Forest, Bass Lake Ranger District, Fuels and Fire Management staff are planning to ignite a prescribed burn on the Source Kinsman Fuels Project during the early spring months of February and March 2015 depending on weather conditions.
This burn will only be 1 to 3 days in duration and will be in patrol and mop up through the remainder of the week.
The units cover 85 acres in total and are composed of dozer crushed 30-year-old chaparral fuels. It will be staffed with fire engines and crews from the Sierra National Forest (SNF).
The current conditions – grass green up and increasing live fuel moistures in surrounding brush fields – are very conducive to this type of burning to safely accomplish the objectives with minimal risk of escape, says the Fire Management team.
The objectives for this burn are to improve wildlife habitat for deer and wild turkey and reduce fuel hazards around the Kinsman Flat area. This area provides forage and hiding cover and is key winter deer range for the San Joaquin River Deer herd. This will also improve vehicle access and provide a safety zone for firefighting resources for any future wildfires that start in this area.
This area has been treated with these types of burns beginning in the 1950s and again in the late 1970s during the same types of conditions, and this project was planned using the documented experience gained from these past burns.
Please contact Burt Stalter, Fuels Specialist, Bass Lake Ranger District, Sierra National Forest District at (559) 877-2218 extension 3208 if there are any questions.
Kinsman Flats is located about 15 miles southeast of North Fork on the Sierra Vista Scenic Byway (Forest Service Road 4S81).
